Page 175 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

The progress of state education, 1939-1941 497

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A History of Bahrain. I surest that your Ilighnoss should ask tho
Education Department to arrange, ao soon us possible, for soino competent
person to write a School History of Bahrain, to bo produced in two forms,
000 suilablo as a first reading-book for infants, and tho other designed for
older boys in tho higher classes of tho Bahrain schools. Such a history as
1 huve iii muid would nut bo writton on tho usual lines of tbo school his­
tories prepared in rccont years by tho educational authorities in somo of tbo !
Arab states. These so-called histories aro without any historical valuo at all.
They consist of long, rambling accounts of legendary exploits, attributed to
bulf-niythioal heroos cf antiquity, and provide littlo information about the
recent pastor the vital present, beyond grossly exaggerated or wholly inaccu­
rate statements, always redounding to tho national glory or tho raoial
credit. Such a history leaves the wholo youth of a nation complotely in
ibe dark as to the real facts of its past, uud does incalculable harm from
every point of view.
Our History of Bahrain should be a sober and rcliablo account of tho
Island's long story, its diflicultics and dangers, joys and sorrows, failures
mid successes. The koynoto of tho story should be truth, and tho scopo of
tho book should extond from tho earliest known times down to tho present
day. It should bo writton in such a way as to impress its youthful readora
with a strong consciousness of tho fact that tho Bahrainis are a soparato,
independent, and sovereign people, ublo to hold tboir own, as regards anti­
quity and ruco-inlogrity, with any nation in tho world. Tho patriotio idea
should bo strongly intorwovon with tho text throughout, and tho hook
should read inuro like an interesting talo than liko a scrios of loscons
designed for tho classroom.
The cost of such a work, if it is to bo properly done, would certainly
not bo less Ihun 1,000, and it might bo as much as 1,000 rupees. But this
expense, 1 am convinced, is ouo which would repay itself many time9 over, in
the shape of an informed patriotism and an intelligent loyalty. Nor would
the hook, of courso, bo read by tho schoolchildren alono : tho knowlcdgo
continued in it would in duo course spread itself all ovor tho Island, aud
the result of this, to tho State, could be nothing but good.